U.S. patent number 4,711,380 [Application Number 06/897,464] was granted by the patent office on 1987-12-08 for tamper-evident seal for a toggle-type dispensing valve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Liqui-Box Corporation. Invention is credited to John G. Ulm.
United States Patent |
4,711,380 |
Ulm |
December 8, 1987 |
Tamper-evident seal for a toggle-type dispensing valve
Abstract
A tear-off tab structure applicable to a self-closing dispensing
valve structure of the toggle type mounted on a spout in which
passage to the outlet is normally-closed by an axially
inwardly-extending flexible wall structure that can be flexed by a
toggle lever carried thereby to complete a discharge passage to the
outlet. The tear-off tab structure substantially covers the outlet
and to give access to the spout through the outlet the tab
structure must be disturbed thereby giving evidence of
tampering.
Inventors: |
Ulm; John G. (Upper Sandusky,
OH) |
Assignee: |
Liqui-Box Corporation
(Worthington, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25407936 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/897,464 |
Filed: |
August 18, 1986 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/153.07;
222/511 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
55/024 (20130101); B65D 47/2025 (20130101); B65D
2401/00 (20200501) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
47/20 (20060101); B65D 47/04 (20060101); B65D
55/02 (20060101); B65D 047/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/511,498,517,541,153,505 ;251/280 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bartuska; F. J.
Assistant Examiner: Noland; Kenneth
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miller; William V. Millard; Sidney
W.
Claims
I claim:
1. A dispensing valve and spout assembly comprising: a hollow
tubular spout having axially inner and outer ends, a valve member
formed of resiliently flexible material mounted on the outer end of
the spout, said valve member having spaced, hollow tubular
concentric inner and outer walls, the inner and outer walls being
flexible and interconnected but spaced apart sufficiently to
provide a socket, said socket receiving and engaging the outer end
of the spout, part of the inner wall carrying a flexible hollow
extension with an outlet, the inner wall carrying adjacent its
axially-inward end a transverse wall, means on the spout for
forming a first seal with the inner wall of the valve member, said
outer wall having an outlet positioned axially outwardly beyond the
axially outer end of the spout which said outlet of said outer wall
is directed radially outwardly from the axial outer end of the
spout, the hollow flexible extension projecting axially outwardlly
beyond the axially outer end of the spout and the hollow flexible
extension is connected to the outer wall at a closed upper outer
end where the outlet of the flexible hollow extension is located
and is directed radially outwardly towards the outlet in the outer
wall with which it substantially aligns, a distorting member
mounted on the transverse wall such that movement of the distorting
member in one direction will cause flexing of both the transverse
wall and the inner wall as well as said extension, thereby opening
a dispensing passage to said outlet in the outer wall bounded by
the inner wall, the spout and the extension of the inner wall,
means forming a combination of an anti-tampering structure and a
second seal between the valve member and the spout comprising a
tear-off tab sealed in said outlet in the flexible extension to
normally prevent access through that outlet into the spout and seal
it to prevent leakage therethrough in case of failure at the first
seal means said tear-off tab comprising an outlet covering section
secured by a tear line connection to the closed upper, outer end of
said extension and extending axially along the extension to which
it is secured and then to the adjacent outer wall to which it is
secured.
2. An assembly according to claim 1 in which the tear-off tab has a
main covering section secured to the outlet by tear lines.
3. An assembly according to claim 2 in which the main section has
an outwardly-extending finger gripping section.
4. An assembly according to claim 3 in which the finger-gripping
section curves outwardly and then inwardly towards the distorting
member.
5. An assembly according to claim 1 in which the spout is cemented
in the socket.
6. The combination of claim 9 in which the valve is fixed on the
spout.
7. An assembly according to claim 1 in which an annular sealing rib
is carried by the spout, said rib being spaced from its
axially-outwardly end so that when the spout end is inserted into
the socket, the rib will sealingly engage the inner wall thereby
forming the first seal means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a dispensing valve of the
automatically-sealing or self-closing type mounted on the
cooperating spout of a container for liquids or other
substances.
It relates more specifically to the type of dispensing valve known
in the prior art as a toggle valve, a good example of which is
illustrated in the U.S. Pat. No. No. 4,444,340 to Bond et al. which
shows it applied to a flexible bag. This valve has an outer wall
which engages the spout and which has an outlet beyond the outer
end of the spout. It also has a resiliently flexible wall structure
which normally engages the spout to seal the outlet. However, a
toggle lever is connected to the flexible wall structure so that a
portion therof can be flexed away from the spout to open a passage
to the dispensing outlet. With this type of valve non-evident
tampering with the contents of the container which carries it can
occur readily merely by pressing on the toggle to open the outlet
and inserting or passing some contaminant through the opened outlet
into the container. There is a need for a sealing means which will
readily indicate any tampering of the valve to open the outlet in
an attempt to add anything to the container contents through the
outlet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described with specific reference to
the type of toggle valve illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,340
applied to a flexible bag, but it will be understood that it is
applicable to any type of prior art toggle-operated valve applied
to various types of containers and which includes a
resiliently-flexible sealing wall or diaphragm normally closing a
dispensing outlet passage but movable by the toggle to flex and
thereby to open the passage. This means comprises a tear-off
sealing tab which has an outlet-covering wall section and an
extension to be engaged by the fingers to tear away the wall
section to expose the outlet. As long as the tear-off tab is in
place the valve cannot be operated normally to open the outlet, but
if the tab is torn off by pulling it from covering relationship to
the outlet, there is evidence of tampering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The best mode contemplated in carrying out this invention is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toggle-view dispensing valve
provided with the tear-off tamper-evident sealing tab of this
invention, the valve being shown mounted on a spout.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve of FIG. 3 showing
in more detail the sealing tab in position at the outlet.
FIG. 5 is a face view of the sealing tab in position at the
outlet.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the sealing tab
removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With specific reference to the drawings, the valve of this
invention is shown applied to a flexible plastic bag of the type of
package known generally as bag-in-box and illustrated at B in FIGS.
3 and 6. However, the valve of this invention can be applied to any
of a number of different types of containers, for example, the type
of blown plastic container shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,242.
The assembly in which this invention is shown embodied comprises a
spout indicated generally by the numeral 11 and a valve indicated
generally by the numeral 12. The spout is made of the usual
semi-rigid plastic material. The valve is made of the usual
elastomeric or resiliently flexible plastic material. In the
drawings, the present invention is shown applied to the structure
illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,340 which includes the spout 11
of annular tubular form with an outer lip 14. At its inner end the
spout has an annular peripheral relatively flexible continuous
attaching flange 17 which is used to attach it to the flexible bag
B to which it is heat-sealed as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6. An
outermost flange 22 is provided on the spout which is spaced
axially-inwardly a predetermined distance from the lip 14 to serve
as a stop for aiding in positioning the valve 12 on the spout. A
continuous annular sealing rib 20 is formed on the interior surface
of the spout 11 at a definite axial position inwardly of the lip
14. This position is axially intermediate the lip 14 and the flange
22. The attaching flange 17 will be relatively thin and flexible
whereas the remainder of the spout will be heavier and,
consequently, semi-rigid. As indicated in said patent the valve 12
is made of plastic material which is elastomeric or resiliently
flexible so that it can be distorted under pressure but will return
to its original position when pressure is released.
As disclosed in said patent, the valve member 12 comprises spaced,
hollow, cylindrical and coaxial inner and outer walls 25 and 24
respectively. The walls 24 and 25 are interconnected by a
transverse flange 27 (FIG. 1) but are spaced apart sufficiently to
provide an axially-inwardly-open socket 26 (FIG. 4) capable of
receiving and engaging the axially-outward end portion of the spout
11. The outer wall 24 is of greater axial extent than the inner
wall 25, the transverse flange 27 connecting the axially-outward
end of the inner wall 25 to an axially-intermediate portion of the
outer wall 24. The extreme outward end of the outer wall 24 carries
an outwardly-extending reinforcing bead 28, and the portion of the
outer wall 24 lying axially outwardly of the flange 27 is
reinforced by spaced gussets 31 extending between the
axially-outward end of the outer wall 24 and flange 27. The
axially-inward end of the inner wall 25 is attached to a transverse
wall 36, which closes the axially-inward end of the inner wall 25,
the transverse wall 36 lying perpendicular to the axis of the
cylindrical inner wall 25 so that they are connected together at
right angles. The central portion of the transverse wall 36 carries
a distorting member in the form of a toggle lever 35, which extends
axially outwardly from the wall 36, to which it is connected by
triangular gussets 37 directed vertically downwardly (with the
valve assembly in the orientation shown in the drawings, which is
its normal operating orientation). The valve member 12 is pushed
onto the axially-outward end of the spout 11 so that the
axially-outward end of the spout 11 enters the socket 26 of the
valve member 12. The spout and the valve member are retained in
their correct axial positions relative to one another with the
sealing rib 20 on the inner surface of the spout sealing against
the outer surface of the inner wall 25, the axial length of the
inner wall being sufficient to dispose the transverse wall 36
inwardly well beyond the rib 20 on the spout once insertion of the
spout into the socket 26 has thus been completed. The rib 20 on the
spout is so sized that its internal diameter is slightly less than
the external diameter of the inner wall 25 so that during insertion
of the spout 11 into the socket 26 the rib 20 is compressed and
forms a tight frictional seal with the inner wall 25.
As disclosed in said patent, a dispensing outlet 30 is provided on
the lowest part of the valve assembly (when the valve assembly is
in its normal working orientation as shown). This dispensing outlet
30 is provided by forming a cut-out in the flange 27, and adjacent
this cut-out in the flange 27 is a similar cut-out in the head 28
on the outer wall 24. Also adjacent the cut-out in the flange 27,
the inner wall 25 carries an extension 25a which extends
axially-outwardly to the plane of the axially-outward face of the
bead 28. The axially-outward edge of the main portion of the
extension is joined to the bead 28 by a flange 27a which forms, in
effect, a continuation of the bead 28.
When the valve member 12 is in its natural, undistorted
configuration, the passage through the spout 11 is sealed by the
axially-inwardly extending flexible wall structure consisting of
transverse wall 36 and inner wall 25 which engages the rib 20 on
the spout. To open the valve assembly, the lever 35 is pushed
upwardly and axially-inwardly, and because of the
downwardly-extending gussets 37, this upward and axially-inward
movement of the lever 35 causes the portion of the transverse wall
36 adjacent the extension 25a to be distorted axially-outwardly, as
shown in FIG. 6, thereby causing the extension 25a to be pulled
inwardly. The major portion of the inner wall 25 cannot move
inwardly since it is constrained by its connection to the
transverse flange 27 adjacent the extension 25a, leaving the
extension 25a free to distort inwardly. This inward movement of the
extension 25a opens a dispensing passage (as best seen in FIG. 6)
connecting the passage through the spout 11 to the dispensing
outlet 30, this dispensing outlet being bounded by the inner wall
25, the inner surface of the spout 11, the extension 25a and the
axially-outward portion of the outer wall 24 lying axially
outwardly of the lip 14 of the spout 11.
Because of the right-angled connection between the transverse wall
36 and the inner wall 25, when the toggle lever 35 is released, the
transverse wall 36 and the inner wall 25, including the extension
25a will quickly snap back into their closed position, as shown in
FIG. 3, thereby restoring the seal between the rib 20 and the spout
11 and the inner wall 25.
It will thus be apparent that the patented structure so far
described provides a plug-like valve structure which fits into the
spout 11, this structure comprising the plug formed by the flexible
axially-inwardly extending wall structure including the inner
annular wall 25 and the flexible transverse wall 36. The wall 25 is
normally in sealing engagement with the annular rib 20 on the inner
surface of the spout but when the valve is actuated by the toggle
35 an outlet passage is created to the outlet 30. At any time with
this patented structure the valve could be opened so that
contaminants could be passed through the outlet 30 into the
contents of the container without evidence.
To prevent this, according to this present invention, a tear-off
tab structure 50 is provided for covering the outlet 30 as shown in
the drawings. This structure is such that normally it is disposed
in covering relationship to the outlet and must be removed before
the valve can operate in a normal manner to dispense the container
contents. The only way access to the contents of the container can
be obtained is to first remove the tear-off tab 50 from the outlet,
thus indicating to a subsequent user that a tampering with the
valve has occured.
This tear-off tab 50 is shown applied to the outlet 30 in all
Figures of the drawings. It is shown best in enlarged detail in
FIGS. 4 and 5 and comprises an inner main outlet-covering section
51 of substantially rectangular form and an outer reduced width
pull-tab extension section 52 which can be engaged by the fingers
in tearing off the tab to expose the outlet. The pull tab section
52 is of less width than the covering section 51 being connected
thereto at an angle joint 53 and curving outwardly of the plane of
the section 51 and over the toggle 35 so that it can be readily
gripped by the fingers. Its surfaces can be knurled to facilitate
gripping.
As previously indicated the outlet 30 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is formed in
the wall extension 25a inwardly of the outer flange 27a and
outwardly of the outer lip 14 of the spout 11 and as shown is of
rectangular form. The covering section 51 of the tear-off tab 50 is
of similar shape and size and in forming the valve 12 is joined to
the edges of the outlet by weakened tear lines 54 formed by
thinning the material of section 51 at the flange 27a, the
extension 25a and adjacent edge of wall 24. These tear lines
provide joints that are weaker than the rest of the tab material so
that a pull on the pull-tab section 52 will tear the
outlet-covering section 51 away from the outlet 30 at all the lines
54. However, even if the section 51 is not torn off the outlet 30
completely to the condition indicated in FIG. 6 there will be an
indication that tampering has occured since its connection at the
outlet will be disturbed even if it is torn-off just enough to
admit a foreign substance through the outlet. The outlet-covering
section 51 will normally completely seal the outlet 30 and prevent
dispensing even if the toggle lever 35 is activated but this is not
essential as long as it substantially covers the outlet and must be
removed to gain access to the outlet.
It is preferred that after the container is filled with its desired
contents, the valve 12 be fixed on the spout 11 in some manner so
that the complete valve cannot be removed without damage to the
valve and/or spout. One simple way this can be accomplished is to
apply an adhesive between the valve and spout to permanently
connect the members. Another way is to have an interlocking
structure between the valve and spout which is common in the art
and which would prevent separation of these members without some
evidence of damage.
It will thus be apparent that this invention provides a tear-off
tab structure cooperating with the outlet of a toggle-type
dispensing valve to indicate tampering at the outlet prior to the
use of the valve for normal dispensing. The tear-off tab is
applicable to the valve disclosed in said patent as well as other
prior art toggle valves where there is an axially inwardly
extending flexible concave wall structure, either in the form of a
plug or concave diaphragm, which normally seals by contact with the
spout to prevent connection to the outlet, but which can be flexed
by the toggle to create a passage from the spout to the outlet.
* * * * *